House Passes Stopgap Funding Bill Amid Shutdown Threat as Key Republicans Oppose

Congress is facing a looming government shutdown as funding legislation to extend government operations past September 30 has failed in the Senate and faces challenges in the House. Maryland Democrats voted against a stopgap funding measure to leverage negotiations for restoring Medicaid coverage and Affordable Care Act subsidies, opposing significant health care cuts in a recent Republican budget bill. Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie was one of two House Republicans to vote against the stopgap spending bill, citing its failure to reduce spending and objections to provisions he linked to prior administrations' policies; his dissent has drawn criticism from President Trump and GOP leadership. The Senate rejected competing short-term funding measures, with Democrats pushing for health care provisions and Republicans advocating for a clean funding extension to allow time for full appropriations negotiations. The impasse highlights deep partisan divides over budget priorities, with Democrats aiming to protect health care funding and Republicans focusing on spending cuts and fiscal restraint, increasing the likelihood of a partial government shutdown starting October 1st.